AAA expects record 3.7M Texans to travel Memorial Day weekend. See best times to travel
Are you prepared for one of the busiest holidays of the year? Here's what to know if you're traveling this holiday.
According to AAA, 3.7 million Texans will travel over the Memorial Day holiday period between Thursday, May 22 and Monday, May 26, a 3% increase from 2024. This is the third straight year of record-breaking travel for this holiday statewide.
About 45.1 million Americans will travel for the holiday weekend, a 3.1% increase from 2024 and a new national record for this holiday period, AAA data shows. It surpasses the previous record of 44 million set in 2005.
Galen Grillo, AAA Texas vice president and general manager, says Texans should expect some relief at the pump, but pay more at the airport.
'Texans continue to prioritize travel with family and friends after the pandemic," Grillo said. "This year, consumers will get some price relief at the gas pump, car rental counter, and when flying internationally, but they will spend more on domestic flights, hotels, cruises and tours compared to 2024.'
According to AAA data, here are the top domestic destinations for Americans this upcoming Memorial Day weekend:
Orlando
Seattle
New York
Las Vegas
Miami
Texans are expected to travel by car more than by plane for Memorial Day weekend due to several factors. Some key reasons for this trend include:
Lower gas prices: According to Gasbuddy, Texas gas prices are lower than last year, making road trips more affordable.
Convenience and flexibility: Driving allows travelers to avoid airport crowds, flight delays, and baggage restrictions while offering more control over their schedules.
Popular road trip destinations: Many Texans are heading to beach towns like Galveston or between metro areas such as Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio, which are easily accessible by car.
Post-pandemic travel preferences: Texans continue to prioritize family and friend gatherings, and road trips provide a more comfortable and social travel experience.
Airports are gearing up for a surge in travelers as AAA forecasts 3.61 million air passengers this holiday weekend, a 1.8% rise from 2024 and a 12.3% increase compared with 2019.
Over 39 million drivers are expected to hit the road for the Memorial Day holiday. It's a 3% increase from last year and a 4.6% boost from 2019.
The current average for Texas gas prices is $2.72, while the national average is $3.15.
Here are the cities that have the cheapest gas while traveling in Texas:
According to GasBuddy, here are the top 10 places to get cheaper fuel during Memorial Day weekend:
Exxon (Beaumont): $2.29 per gallon
Texaco (Houston): $2.29 per gallon
Mobil (Houston): $2.29 per gallon
Shell (Willis): $2.29 per gallon
Valero (Baytown): $2.29 per gallon
7-Eleven (Corpus Christi): $2.32 per gallon
Super 1 Foods (Texarkana): $2.33 per gallon
Stripes (Pharr): $2.34 per gallon
Walmart (Hidalgo): $2.34 per gallon
Circle K (Pharr): $2.34 per gallon
AAA recommends leaving during the following times:
Before noon on Thursday, May 22nd.
Before 11 a.m. on Friday, May 23rd.
Before noon on Saturday, May 24th.
Before 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 25th.
Before 2 p.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26th
Memorial Day is observed annually on the last Monday of May. This year, it falls on May 26.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: AAA: Record 3.7M Texans expected to travel during Memorial Day weekend
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